Thursday, February 27, 2014

Upper Wind Festival VII : Saturday, March 15th, 2014RACE SEASON IS UPON US!The 2014 Western Whitewater Championship Series is kicking off with a Class V bang with the 7th Annual Upper Wind River Festival Race! This event is always a rowdy time as every race is a mass start event! If you want to participate, or just want to come out to watch the carnage, you will find all the details needed below. Thanks for joining us!

TAKE-OUT / AWARDS CEREMONY DIRECTIONS:
From Carson, WA, head north on Wind River Road. A few minutes north of town, take a left on High Bridge Road (If you have crossed the actual High Bridge, you have gone to far). Take an immediate right on Old Detour Road. Continue down this road a short distance slowly through a residential neighborhood until it turns to dirt. Keep going until you get to the Wind River.

STABLE BRIDGE PUT-IN / STAGING AREA DIRECTIONS:
From Carson, WA, head north on Wind River Road. Continue for approximately 7.5 miles. Take a left turn on Hemlock Road. You will immediately cross Stabler Bridge and most likely see a bunch of boaters. Take your first right onto Edgewater Drive, and park where ever you can find space that does not block traffic!

REGISTRATION:Start and registration at Stabler Bridge put in. There will be a KEEN pop-up tent with tables.

Registration begins at 7:30am on the day of the event!

$25 per paddler and covers both races if competing in multiple classes. Includes insurance, food, t-shirt, photo/videos, and beverages.

Racers are encouraged to register in the morning for both races if they are planning on competing in multiple events to save time.

When racers sign up:

Fill Out Registration Form

Fill Out ACA Form

BIBS:

Bib numbers are good for both races if competing in multiple events. The front left paddler in the rafts wears that team's bib. This is for both the R2 and R4 classes. No other competitor in the raft can wear a bib.

STARTING POSITIONS:
Competitors draw a card from a deck and bring the card to the racer/safety meeting. Keep the card in your pfd if questions later arise in regard to your starting position. This is also the ticket for food and drink later at the awards ceremony.

IMPORTANT: DO NOT BE LATE TO YOUR DESIGNATED STARTING TIME. Race timing is based off of these times, so they will not be delayed unless absolutely mandatory. If someone tries to register within 30 minutes before the start of either race, the race will still start on time with or without them!, and the fee is non-refundable. Late registration also requires the competitor to start at the back of the pack, with no drawing for starting position.

The long and the short of it: DON"T BE LATE! RACE SWEEP:
2 or more Catarafts will be designated as sweep boats.

All safety boaters will sweep the course with this final group.

Same finish line as in years past, about 3 miles downstream from the start. Annotated on the event map, and demarced by sponsor banners.

RESULTS / AWARDS CEREMONY / CELEBRATION:

The awards ceremony this year will be at the bottom of the take out road and in a nice little area out of the mud. Please keep the road clear at all times. Prizes are only guaranteed for classes with 5 or more registered competitors, and only for the top 25% or less. (ex: 10 racers = 1st/2nd/3rd, 5 racers = 1st/2nd)

Park at the top if possible and along wide sections of the road. Food and Ninkasi beer will be free to all participants (bring your starting card from earlier), and available for a minimum $5 donation for spectators.

RACE TIMES:
Official finishing order/winners will be announced in 2 hours or less after the race.Times however will be unofficial. Official times will be posted here as well as the following locations: